Grace Under Fire

by By Nora Zelevansky | Riviera San Diego magazine | February 7, 2011

You know the expression: When life gives you lemons, launch a hot new clothing line.
Just ask North County talents Eva Zubek and Karin Trevino (designer and merchandiser, respectively). Instead of starting another style blog when axed from the downsizing brand Reef, the ladies launched contemporary day-to-night line Garner Grace, spinning oodles of “lifestyle” apparel knowledge into gold or, well, jersey and silk (garnergrace.com). The line instantly captured a SoCal year-round-resort aesthetic that’s now embraced worldwide.
Their ideal customer—a vibrant, playful, metropolitan surf girl (think Cameron Diaz or Lou Doillon)—is already so enamored that Garner Grace can be found at boutiques from Miami and Aspen to Kitson in L.A., despite only launching last spring. Beach town architecture and flavor inspired the inaugural line. “It’s eclectic and colorful,” raves the designer, who brainstorms best during beach jogs.
Based on personal necessity, the pieces translate effortlessly from daytime lunches at Swami’s Café to evening concerts at the Belly Up or upscale dinners, whether one arrives via limo or beach cruiser. Easy-breezy fabrics are cut in sexy, youthful silhouettes with sparkling patterns. “Pieces with beading have a jersey fabric base, so they’re not so serious,” Zubek says.
While Trevino is a SoCal native, Zubek was raised in Slovakia until her early teens and is influenced by Europe’s eclectic yet polished twist. Thus, spring 2011 is all about relaxed silhouettes, utilitarian detailing and redefining the stripe. “I used tie-dye or sequins to create geometric shapes that are feminine,” says Zubek.
Must-haves for spring include acid-washed silk jogger pants that cuff at the calf and a beaded epaulette jacket. All of Garner Grace’s embellishments are done by hand in India, and have clearly garnered some attention to the duo.
“Those little details make us different.”